Numerous music critics called the track one of the best from the album, praising both its production and songwriting. The "seamless" transition between "Chromatica II" and "911" was also highlighted and was turned into several memes upon the album's release. The accompanying music video was directed by Tarsem Singh and features a surreal dreamscape and a twist ending. It was largely inspired by Armenian film director Sergei Parajanov's 1969 Soviet art film The Color of Pomegranates. Gaga performed "911" at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards as part of a medley.
911
Lady Gaga Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep repeating self-hating phrases
I have heard enough of these voices
Almost like I have no choice
This is biological stasis
My mood's shifting to manic places
Wish I laughed and kept the good friendshipsWatch life, here I go again
I can't see me cry
Can't see me cry, ever again (ooh)
I can't see me cry
Can't see me cry this is the end (ooh)
My biggest enemy is me
Pop a 911
My biggest enemy is me
Pop a 911
My biggest enemy is me
Ever since day one
Pop a 911
Then pop another one
Keep my dolls inside diamond boxes
Save them till I know I'm gon' drop this
Front I've built around me, oasis
Paradise is in my hand
Holding on so tight to this status
It's not real but I'll try to grab it
Keep myself in beautiful places
Paradise is in my hands
I can't see me cryCan't see me cry ever again (ooh)
I can't see me cry
Can't see me cry this is the end (ooh)
My biggest enemy is me
Pop a 911
My biggest enemy is me
Pop a 911
My biggest enemy is me
Ever since day one
Pop a 911
Then pop another one
(Pop another one)
Pop a 911
Then pop another one
I can't see me cry
Can't see me cry ever again (ooh)
I can't see me cry
Can't see me cry this is the end (ooh)
My biggest enemy is me
Pop a 911
My biggest enemy is me
Pop a 911
My biggest enemy is me
Ever since day one
Pop a 911
Then pop another one
Please patch the line
Please patch the line
Need a 911, can you patch the line
Please patch the line
Please patch the line
Need a 911, can you patch the line
The lyrics of Lady Gaga's song 911 explore the inner turmoil and mental struggles of the artist. She sings about her own emotional instability and self-hatred, and how she copes with it by taking medication or "popping a 911." The song's opening lines describe her turning up emotional faders while repeating self-hating phrases, indicating her relentless battle with her own thoughts. She refers to her biological stasis, which could mean a state of mental health issues that are inherent and unchanging, leading to shifts in her mood to manic places.
The artist wishes she laughed and kept good friendships, but instead, she finds herself popping pills to numb the pain. Lady Gaga acknowledges that she is her own biggest enemy and that she often resorts to taking medication to provide temporary relief from her inner turmoil. The line "pop a 911" refers to taking pills to calm down, and she repeats it several times throughout the song.
Lady Gaga speaks about holding onto her status and keeping up appearances, even though it's not real. She tries to hold on to beautiful places that she feels represent paradise while acknowledging that it's all just a front. The song ends with her asking for help by asking the person on the other end of the line to patch her through to a 911 emergency service.
Overall, the lyrics of 911 by Lady Gaga are intense and gripping, painting a vivid picture of a person battling with their own mind and trying to find a way out of the pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Turning up emotional faders
Increasing the intensity of my emotions
Keep repeating self-hating phrases
Continuously using negative self-talk
I have heard enough of these voices
I am tired of internal negative self-talk
Almost like I have no choice
Feels like the negativity is beyond my control
This is biological stasis
I am experiencing emotional numbness
My mood's shifting to manic places
My emotions are becoming unstable and intense
Wish I laughed and kept the good friendships
I regret losing touch with close friends due to my emotional instability
Watch life, here I go again
I am about to go through another emotional rollercoaster
I can't see me cry
I am unwilling to show my vulnerability and emotions by crying
Can't see me cry, ever again (ooh)
I refuse to cry again because it makes me feel weak
My biggest enemy is me
I recognize that I am my own worst enemy
Pop a 911
I need to call for help to deal with my emotional distress
Ever since day one
I have been fighting with myself since the beginning
Then pop another one
I may need to ask for help multiple times
Keep my dolls inside diamond boxes
I keep my possessions safe from my emotional instability
Save them till I know I'm gon' drop this
I save them until I feel emotionally stable again
Front I've built around me, oasis
I have created a facade of happiness and contentment around me
Paradise is in my hand
I am in control of my own happiness
Holding on so tight to this status
I am holding on tightly to my current emotional state
It's not real but I'll try to grab it
I know it's not a true emotional state, but I still cling onto it
I can't see me cry
I refuse to cry and show my vulnerability to others
Need a 911, can you patch the line
I need emergency help to deal with my emotional breakdown
Please patch the line
I beg for help to deal with my emotional distress
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hugo Pierre Leclercq, Justin Drew Tranter, Michael Tucker, Stefani J. Germanotta
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@janekelly7565
So when you use other people's work that they've created with THEIR talent and THEIR brain, imagination, you at least have to have some decency to pay respect to that person and give them the credit they DESERVE.
This is a video which CLEARLY uses the scenes from Sergei Paradjanov's film called "The Color of Pomegranates" (based on poems of Sayat-Nova - a greatly appreciated musician, poet armenian culture (google that, if you need to educate yourself on this. Judging by the number of likes - a bunch of people DO need that).
It talks about armenian culture, heritage and history.
Parajanov was a genius soviet filmmaker of armenian descent, a world-renowned talent alongside Tarkovsky, Scorsese and others.
His work is to this day studied in universities and considered to be masterpieces (very few filmmakers managed to develop their own unique "language" when making a film.
He did a lot for his art, was in labour camps for his views in the soviet era, had to work in a country with severe censorship.
And, most importantly, he did a lot for his people and has a tremendous legacy around the globe.
This lady is now earning money off of HIS hard work and talent.
In other words, this is yet another example of CULTURAL APPROPRIATION.
Remember this when this person gets another award and will be praised for her aka "imagination" and what not.
It takes literally 2 braincells to steal other's work.
But the gag is...you need to have some smarts to pull that off too, whuch is not the case in the video above.
Don't make mockery of other ethnicities' culture and legacy.
And sure as hell - don't make money off of that.
Give people the credit that they deserve.
Create your own, don't steal other's.
Tip of the day:
Hold your "idols" accountable and don't normalise this type of shitty behavior.
Peace
@elimartinez5462
READ ME TO DECIPHER THIS MASTERPIECE (English&Spanish):
0:18 the red facecloth covering her head is a concussion
0:26 pomegranates and the red pomegranate jewelry symbolizing her injury & the fruit of the dead
0:28/2:39 Death as she follows it
0:46 guy at the steering wheel 4:06
0:54 curious passerby/lookie-loo 4:17
0:57 firemen removing the door from the car 4:16
1:11 recent widow with her deceased husband who got killed in the accident 4:23
1:14 nearby pedestrians with selfie sticks calling 911 4:21
1:21 EMTs arriving in hospital helicopter 4:10
1:35 EMTs check other patients
1:50 puddle of water from the erupted hydrant
1:55 saving the rich man in Lamborghini 4:24
1:58 mirror reflection as flashlight 2:10
2:05 she’s losing consciousness/dying/ascending to heaven and EMT resuscitates her
2:17 if you pause it really quickly you see her trying to come back to life in reality
2:26/2:44 setting the tourniquet on her ankle 4:03
2:30 one of the EMTs giving her CPR
2:35 firefighters putting out fire and police directing traffic 4:08
2:38 ode to Armenian meaning of peacock as eternal life
2:39 they are trying to save her from following death
2:39 Fire hydrant leaking water at 4:26
2:44 The Rod of Asclepius meaning the common medical symbol shown on the EMT 4:20
2:47 foreshadowing of what’s actually happening
2:51 checking her heartbeats
3:10 preparing to give her defibrillation
3:24 Chromatica symbols scarred on her forehead
3:28 the firefighter helmets have 911 in roman numerals IX II
4:28 LG paying the bills lol
Y en Espanol:
0:18 el paño rojo que cubre su cabeza es una conmoción cerebral
0:26 granadas y las joyas de granada roja que simbolizan su herida y el fruto de los muertos
0:28/2:39 Muerte como ella la sigue
0:46 chico al volante 4:06
0:54 transeúnte curioso / lookie-loo 4:17
0:57 bomberos quitando la puerta del coche 4:16
1:11 viuda reciente con su esposo fallecido que murió en el accidente 4:23
1:14 peatones cercanos con palos para selfies llamando al 911 4:21
1:21 EMT llegando en helicóptero del hospital 4:10
1:35 Los técnicos de emergencias médicas controlan a otros pacientes
1:50 charco de agua del hidrante en erupción
1:55 salvando al rico en Lamborghini 4:24
1:58 reflejo de espejo como linterna 2:10
2:05 está perdiendo el conocimiento / muriendo / ascendiendo al cielo y EMT la resucita
2:17 si hace una pausa muy rápido, la ve tratando de volver a la vida en la realidad
2:26/2:44 colocando el torniquete en su tobillo 4:03
2:30 uno de los técnicos de emergencias médicas le da RCP
2:35 bomberos apagando el fuego y la policía dirigiendo el tráfico 4:08
2:38 oda al significado armenio del pavo real como vida eterna
2:39 están tratando de salvarla de seguir a la muerte
2:39 Hidrante con fugas de agua a las 4:26
2:44 El bastón de Asclepio que significa el símbolo médico común en el EMT
2:47 presagio de lo que realmente está sucediendo
2:51 comprobando los latidos de su corazón
3:10 preparándose para darle la desfibrilación
3:28 los cascos de bombero tienen 911 en números romanos IX II
Also, the video draws inspiration from the Armenian masterpiece The Color of Pomegranates and I couldn't help but notice that the aesthetic was akin to Tarsem's The Fall.
@UriahLuce
1) Pop a 911 refers to Popping an anxiety pill that gets referred to as "911"
2) The song is an upbeat pop song about battling one's addiction to anxiety medication and trying to stabilize mental instability. I.e My biggest enemy is me, pop a 911.
3) This song video is a reference to an obscure Armenian film called The Colour of Pomegranates. Hence the Pomegranates and also a lot of symbolism match those found in that film.
4) They were not Mexican references but Armenian references. Hence why they flash a sign that says Armenian film festival.
5) The part where Gaga is in green and flying refers to when her life is leaving her body but the paramedic resuscitated her and brought her back down. That's why the halo on her head is not above her head because she's not left her body yet. The flower she carries as well as white and fresh when she floats but once she descends back, notice how it wilts.
6) The woman in the white garb with the long-haired man is the other medic on the accident site. Note the red cross symbol. And the snake in the universal logo for medicine is referenced constantly.
7) The end proves that Gaga perceives the world in a colorful and fantasy-based manner. That's why everything she saw before she became unconscious was interpreted by her mind the way we saw it. Another theory is that she perceived them that way because she was not on her pills. the pills "normalize" her so without the pills, everything is perceived by her is magical and artistic.
8) Also, in 2011, Gaga wore teal hair and said she wears teal when she wants to portray her fantasy side.and goes back to blonde when she's portraying reality. Notice how she's teal haired when she's in the fantasy dream in 911 but in the accident scene, she's blonde.
9) LG could be a sponsor but it's also what the fans call her. LG stands for Lifes good and for Lady Gaga.
Thank you for coming to my TED Talk
@LadyGaga3535
In fact, Gaga gave clues for the next album era. Her new album is mayhem and she said her alter ego’s name is mayhem too.
0:26 this is the same dark and mysterious persona ( in disease video ) so it’s her alter ego “mayhem”
2:18 this is “mayhem” too. ( lady in red” in abracadabra music video and lyrics )
3:33 it’s just her. and she wrote ‘disease’ to herself. this is pre-disease. ( ‘there are no more tears to cry’ in lyrics and the ‘disease’ is a continuation of 911. ‘runnin out of medicine’ )
Maybe “mayhem” is her medicine and the medicine chases her but she always run away. Actually poison her inside and mayhem could be her antidote.
@sofiahorzez
After watching the video and the painting several times I think I got what happened in real life:
- The character of Lady Gaga didn’t take her medications ( I’m guessing antipsychotics/ benzodiazepines/ antidepressants ?) she was suicidal, she wanted to end her life so she drove into traffic with her bicycle and she had bought pomegranates ( that’s why we see them fruits scattered in the “dream” version)
- The first car (the blue car that had the guy that got his head hit by the airbag )crashed into the bicycle and then the Lamborghini crashed into the first car and probably ran one of the pedestrians (a foreigner or non cacausian).
-The medical team got there by helicopter ( that’s why we see in the dream version, the two descending with an umbrella and we see it too on the paining). They were called by the two pedestrians that we see with the selfie-stick
- The police probably got there first.
About the symbolism, I got :
- A Desert because she saw the LG display and the movie theater poster(white sand) and it probably represents a limbo ( between life and death)
- She was laying down right next to her bicycle so it’s almost certain she caused the accident.
- She had a red ankle bracelet and a red mask that represent the wounds she had from the accident.
- Pomegranates because she bought them and they represent the Armenian film, the color of pomegranates
- Black horse and the rider, again from the movie theater poster (white sands) /LG display that probably represents death (that’s why Lady Gaga is following it because she actually was hoping to die)
- Then she enters to the scene at the chapel, she’s not ready to leave because she feels guilt ‘cause she actually got people hurt.
- We see the guy hitting his head with the pillow that represents the airbag (and it repeats itself because lady Gaga saw this. it reminds me of flashback memories or involuntary recurrent memories that occur in PTSD)
-The first pedestrian is there by curiosity
- The colored Frame represents the window of the blue car.
- After that, we see the two pedestrians that called 911 ( pointing the helicopter) and also recorded the scene.
- The two medical staff descend from the helicopter , then the hot paramedic gave the guy in the blue car a special blanket and checked the pulse of the pedestrian who got ran by one of the cars.
- Next we see the hot paramedic attending, the rich man with a tank of oxygen ( represented by the shell 🐚 ).
- then we see Gaga trying to ascend to heaven ☁️, then get pulled back to earth by the hot paramedic and flashed with a mirror by the other paramedic ( representing the light of the flashlight 🔦). We also get a subliminal image of reality when she hits the floor.
- At one point she gets CPR by the hot paramedic but she’s not responding so she leaves ( she’s like nope 🤷🏻♀️)
- The hot paramedic grabs her ankle to place the tourniquet.
- She follows the black horse with the rider again because she’s close to death but the paramedic follows her to save her. (And the blue silky fabric represents the water from the fire hydrant 💦 ).
-The hot paramedic checks her pulse, and we see the painting, explaining everything that happened in real life.
- Then he gets the defibrillator and gives it to the other paramedic.
- Next there’s the scene inside the chapel, almost like a trial, everyone points her because she caused the accident. So in her mind, it’s interpreted as a sentence to death .
- She cries because she’s realized how much pain she has caused and that the only thing that she wanted is to end her life (props to the acting we could feel how painful it was for her😢)
- She was found guilty so the hot paramedic “kills her” with the pointy daggers but instead it’s the defibrillator.
And voilà she’s brought back to life!
Bonus : the hot paramedic is seen by Lady Gaga as the punisher / the executioner / “the bad guy” because 1) he cut her chance to go to heaven 2) he follows her to send her to trial 3) he “kills her”. The representation that she has of him is totally out of touch with reality and at the same time it’s not because deep down she knows he’s trying to save other people but her guilt is simply stronger. So in her mind she needs to be punished.
@renzee2193
My heart breaks when she cried. It's a call for help and she knows that she's helpless there.
@50ksubscriberschallenge19
It also makes me tear up. No wonder she’s now an acclaimed actress.
@MonRojasOfficial
That part got to me. She didn't want to die.
@WowwowLulu
@@50ksubscriberschallenge19 what does acclaim mean
@Enothyna
War in karabakh , armenia cry, simbol of armenians pomegranat, style of Paradzanov art in video , very interesting ... @@WowwowLulu
@dimage84
That millisecond when they show that she was resuscitated for the first time at 2:17, where she symbolically gets pulled to the ground. Literally a split second. Blows my mind
@rexp1727
Woah!!! I literally didn't even notice this 😱
@mateussaraiva3241
😳💥💥💥
@tatianaa
No me di cuenta lol
@xueicchi
I was dumb that I didn't get this at first but came back because I realized what that actually is. And my fault I read this first before finishing as I was so confused with the video. Regardless, this video is amazing!